| Abstract | AIMS: To investigate the efficacy of azithromycin in patients with ocular toxoplasmosis. METHODS: 11 immunocompetent patients with ocular toxoplasmosis were treated with azithromycin (500 mg the first day, followed by 250 mg/day for 5 weeks). Ocular and systemic examinations were performed during active retinitis episodes and all patients were followed for at least 1 year. RESULTS: The intraocular inflammation disappeared within 4 weeks in seven patients, including two cases with progressive retinitis despite previous treatment with pyrimethamine, sulphadiazine, and folinic acid. Recurrence of retinitis occurred in three patients (27%) within the first year of follow up. No systemic side effects of azithromycin were encountered. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that although azithromycin cannot prevent recurrent disease it may be an effective alternative for patients with ocular toxoplasmosis who cannot tolerate standard therapies. |
| Authors | A Rothova, L E Bosch-Driessen, N H van Loon, W F Treffers
(Affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, FC Donders Institute, Academic Hospital Utrecht, Netherlands.)
|
| Journal | The British journal of ophthalmology
(Br J Ophthalmol)
Vol. 82
Issue 11
Pg. 1306-8
(Nov 1998)
ISSN: 0007-1161 ENGLAND |
| PMID | 9924338
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
|
| Chemical References |
- Anti-Bacterial Agents
- Azithromycin
|
| Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Anti-Bacterial Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Azithromycin
(therapeutic use)
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Recurrence
- Retinitis
(drug therapy, parasitology)
- Toxoplasmosis, Ocular
(drug therapy)
- Treatment Failure
- Uveitis, Anterior
(drug therapy, parasitology)
|
